Friese and Harrison Both Penalized Following Last-Turn Takeout at 2026 Anaheim 2 SX - Racer X
January 25, 2026, 12:05pm
Anaheim, CA Anaheim 2 (A2)Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship (https://racerxonline.com/sx/2026/anaheim-2)
The Anaheim 2 (A2) round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship saw a heated exchange between riders Vince Friese and Mitchell Harrison, resulting in penalties for both. The incident occurred during the 450SX main event, where Friese and Harrison were battling for 19th place. In the final turn, Friese took out Harrison, leading to a post-race confrontation.
According to a post-race note from the SMX Media team, Friese received a warning and two license penalty points for "disregarding the Blue Flag and blue flag protocol on multiple occasions during the Main Event." This incident highlights the importance of adhering to race protocols, especially in close competition.
The aftermath of the race saw a Pulpcasts interview with Harrison, who expressed frustration and went to speak with Friese. Friese invited Harrison to his team's rig, where the situation escalated into a physical altercation. The details of this encounter are available in the interview, which can be accessed via the provided link.
The Race Direction (RD) team reviewed the incident, along with other occurrences during the event. Despite the heated exchange, no penalties were assessed during qualifying sessions. However, the RD team did penalize riders for overly aggressive riding and code of conduct violations during the main events.
One of the notable incidents was the aggressive riding by #719 on #41 in the final turn, which resulted in a five-point penalty, a fine, and two license points for #719. Additionally, #41 was penalized for a code of conduct violation, incurring a fine and one license point. These penalties underscore the importance of maintaining sportsmanship and fair competition.
With four total points on his rider's license after just three rounds of SX, Friese's situation is a stark reminder of the consequences of rule violations. The full post-race penalty report is yet to be released, but updates will be provided once it becomes available. This incident serves as a cautionary tale for riders, emphasizing the need for adherence to race rules and protocols to ensure a fair and safe competition environment.
